Archive for May, 2012

The SFPUC is taking steps to curb water waste, replacing faucets, shower heads and toilets in the buildings of some of its biggest users.

At six different locations throughout the Castro, construction is now underway - or about to start - on nearly 1,000 new housing units.

After much speculation (all of which appeared to be inaccurate), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has announced that she will continue to serve in her current role. With that, the Chron pens an editorial about what it means for San Franciscans.

A state bill that would turn all felony drug possession sentences into misdemeanors is receiving support from San Francisco officials. Chief among them being District Attorney George Gascon, who has publicly backed Sen. Mark Leno’s piece of legislation.

The Chron takes the occasion of this Sunday to hide a story on Mayor Lee, the Warriors move, and mayoral legacies behind its paywall. Another good reason to plunk down the dough and get yourself a Chron today…

A contributor to this week’s Bay Guardian has a novel idea for City leaders: she would like local government to allow online ratings of City services through a program like Yelp. Oh yes, I’m quite sure City department heads are eager to welcome all those overwhelmingly positive comments from satisfied San Franciscans.

Many of the city’s indigent are finding themselves sleeping on the street, then in jail, then in the hospital, then back on the streets… racking up huge bills along the way. Although, San Francisco Police Officer Kim Lasalle, the Office of District Attorney George Gascon, and the Sheriff’s Department are trying to break the cycle.

Muni is adding more cameras to their busses. Nope, not to catch you and your friends and the whacky shenanigans that you get into, but to ticket you for driving or parking in the bus lane! I know, it’s less cool once you get the details.

Not a lot of new housing was built in San Francisco last year, and that is not a great sign. In fact, some argue that it is a major contributor to sky rocketing rental prices. I get that. As someone whose rent continues to leap year after year I demand that someone build me a house yesterday! (I also demand a Jacuzzi.)

Sean Elsbernd, Enrique Pearce, Rose Pak, and Warren Hinckle are named and discussed in the Weekly’s annual Best Of edition. Have a look to find out what’s been going on behind the scenes…

The Examiner reports that the record spending in District 1 did not lead to the ouster of the incumbent.

The San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market is set to get a $100 million makeover from local officials.

The happenin’ Mission District is having trouble keeping up with the Joneses thanks to having the City’s most restrictive ban on liquor licenses. Supervisors Scott Wiener and David Campos are deciding what to do next.

How much does it cost to oppose a $1 tax increase per pack of cigarettes? About $40 million. The folks at the Chronicle fill us in on why they support Proposition 29, and what they feel Big Tobacco is doing to dissuade voters from casting a vote in favor of the measure.

In this editorial, the Examiner asks the city’s garbage operator, Recology, to go even further to make zero waste in San Francisco a reality.

Four San Francisco candidates vying for the open seat in the California Assembly’s 19th District are briefly profiled. These candidates want to be honest, effective, and save money. Which is a bummer, because I guess that means no one is running on the far more interesting “I am spendthrift and of loose and very questionable morals” ticket. Additionally, the Chronicle is endorsing Phil Ting for the Assembly seat.

The proposed Chinese Hospital in Chinatown is moving forward in the process after receiving a green light from the Planning Commission yesterday. Next stop, the Board of Supervisors for final approval.

While President Barack Obama’s visit to the Bay Area was deemed a success by many, a comment - seemingly meant to be a compliment - he paid Attorney General Kamala Harris is generating some criticism.

The Board of Supervisors voted 9-2 in favor of honoring Harvey Milk by naming a Navy ship after the slain activist.

It looks like 18,000 city and county workers can be convincing. Mayor Lee’s negotiations with 26 labor groups resulted in a combined $41 million employee compensation increase over the next two years.

Former Supervisor Aaron Peskin takes aim at the proposed measure by Supervisor Scott Wiener to allow some flexibility in how historic preservation laws are applied and created in San Francisco.

That dude who came by your house in the middle of the night and stole your home’s electric wiring and gutters may soon be incentivized to go back to simply mugging your neighbor (…or you live in Pacific Heights and none of what I said makes any sense - what’s “mugging?”). The Board of Supervisors have introduced legislation that would make buying and selling stolen metal slightly more difficult, which is great news, because the big piano at Dolores Park with no keys looked mighty silly.

Apparently, allowing passengers to board Muni buses through more than one door has not created a new freeloader class in San Francisco.

Teachers in San Francisco Unified School District are set for a strike vote this week over the district’s demands to make extensive cuts.